The National tribune., 1887-09-15
RELIEF CORPS NEWS.
GleaningS from National Headquar-
terS--NOtes from the Departments.
HEADQUARTERS WoMAN's RELIEF Corr
SAN FRANCISCO. CAL.
ELIZABETH D'A. KISSr, National President.
NELLIE q. BACkUS. National Secretary.
Department GIeanings.
RELIEF woRK IN INDIANA.

department hfdhiusN.
RELIEF WORK IN INDIANA.
In aleitcr to the indianapolis Journal Mrs. Loretta
j. GuTsuch. Department President of Indiana,
writes rs follows concerning recent gathering in
that city:
mo oIawfully-authorized convention was called
to meet at indianapolis on the dates above named
and the person persons calling il have stand
ing at National Headquarters of the " re, and
are not themselves members Of the organization.
IL was stated IN your report OF tie meeting that
delegates were present representing - Corps. This
must be incorrect for but Is Corps have been legally
organized in this State, and but IS Corps recOX
niZed by National Headquarters. Ii follows then
that all Corps numbered above Is are illegally con
sttuted and that the charters. rituals. badges and
other effects furnished them if they have been fur
nishcd) have been obtained and issued against the
expressed wish Of the National President aud Ma
tiona Treasurer, and consequently in nsurreptiIious
and perhaps fraudulent manner. The charters and
rituals are copyrighted. the badges patented Civ
ing the Corps thus organized cause for reflection
In view of the fact that they liable injunc
tion under the laws governing such matters do
not think that the person or persons organizing
these Corps will claim that the supplies were OH
tanned regularly or through the proper channels
and the query arises whether success achieved
through questionable practices u anything to be
proud Of may say also that Of the q Corps legally
authorized one OF Them No. 20 has had its charter
revoked, and some others are fast approaching
that state OF affairs in consequence of their disTe-
gard OF lawful authority. l have further TO say
shat Of the 1856 members who composed the orgi-
nal and legally constituted Department of Indiana
Woman's Relief Corps, 0.2 of them are reported
To the lawful and recognized Headquarters of the
Department. now located at South Bend, and by
the Department officers TO National HeadquaI ters
al san Francisco, Cal,
"If any of my statements herein be doubted |
respectfully refer the dOubter the National PTesi-
dent for confirmation of their truth. | have re-
Trained heretofore from rushing into print prefer
ring to rely upon the justice of the cause repre-
sent and content to abide the action of the National
Convention. which is soon TO NEE; at ST Louis /;
but as matter OF justice To the loyal women who
have nobly stood by lawfully constituted au-
foregoing
statement.
"In conclusion. / will ask the members Of the
GAR: Can you - loyal members of your Post
whose authority To act comes from a lawfully
organized source-with full realization OF your
obligations aud teachings, countenanee the orgs,ni-
zaton of an auxiliary when done ia an unlawful or
questionable manner? Apply It to your own or
ganization, and what recognition would Post
have that would rebel ainst aud ignore the De-
partment and National authorties?' To the ladies
who through ignorance Willful disregard of our
Rules and Regulations have united with these un-
lawful organizations l quote the advice of our Ma
tional President: DO not sail under false colors,
and do not wear the embleils or parade under the
name of an organization unless you are willing to
be loyal 10 its constituted authority"
DEPARTMENT OF DAKOTA.
DEAR TRIBUNE: Ransom Relief Corps No. 20,
MITCHELL reports an iceCTeam social netting SO for
their relief fund. Many applications for member
ship.
Josiah s weiser Corps, No 81, Valley City, make
merry with their harvest work. and when n new
barn il built the farm Of "A GAR. man. il is
dedicated with dance. Cash proceeds To the
Corps fund SIS. cleared tis way, and another dance
expected on the completion Of another barn.
Joe Hooker Corps, No. 3. Sioux Fails, Will assist
the GAR. in dcdicgiug their hall, Sept. ..
COmmander-in-Chef FEirchild and Department
Commanders Allen and Lucas expected, and a
grand feast of reason and goOdfellowship.
Willis A German, No 10. Grand Forks, had n
social at the residence of Col. T. Smith Senior
Past Commander of tile Post aud Mrs. smith, first
President Of the Corps. "Reminiscences. songs and
music, with delicious refreshments. This Corps
has introduced new feature in their regular ses-
sions by appointing committee Of two ladies to
provide some kind of Ofentertinmcnt for the next Ii
Is sometimes literary ana musical sometimes refcsh-
ments Of Ice cream and cake, or cake aud lemon
Ade. The last was an enormous Watermelon with
knife sticking invitingly in it. These occasions
help To keep up social feeling among the mem
bcrs.
Harvey Corps No. -. at DE Smet. is rapidly
gaining in members. This Corps Is composed
largely of soldiers wives. One feature receHily
introduced, aud tending not only TO interest but
unite IA all more closely, Il the relating of person.
al "reminiscences by some appointed at the
previous meeting; whether oral or written j. left
optional with the soldier wife mother who til
consents to live over the past Sometimes the
voice trcmbles and breaks in the sad recital and
sometimes there are tears ia all eyes as we learn
what woman 30 bravely endured III tile great
struggle.
sol. Meredith Corps No. l5 Frankfort, Is pre-
sided over by Mary l.. =. Bradley, who was COM
misioned army nurse, especially for Wisconsin
soldiers at the front was afteTward changed by the
Medical Board OF Surgeons To Louisville and be-
the Sanitary Commission, which made her "a sort
OF distributing agent of delicacies To the sick Be-
fore the Corps organized she was made an
honorary member of the Post, among whom are
some Wisconsin soldiers. At their request she
started Corps, securing D members TO start with
but declined the Presidency then on account Of an
invalid husband, who WAS hurt in the army and il
incapacitated by softenrg of the brain do bust
ness requiring mental effort. His hospital record
is not such TO enable him To get "a pension. She
looks forward To the day when army nurses will
draw pensions, when she will have something to
help take care Of him. She desires the National
Convention to do what IL can for the army nurses
by way of securing legislation in favor OF their
pension bill. sixty years have already passed over
her head. and the greater each year becomes her
need Of help age creeps on, making her powers
of exertOn more feeble. She is not hopeful know
ing army nurses are not popular in Congress
Quite number of Dakota ladies will attend the
Natioual Encnmpment at ~. Louis Department
Headquarters Will be at Hotel Rozier, corner of
Olive aGd Thirteenth streets, just the street
from Exposition Building. Ladies' can have their
mail directed Hotel Rozier. in of Department
OF Dakota. aud be saved the trouble of calling at
the po=ioiiice waiting without home letters
Sara l.. Is. Smith, Department President, Grand
Forks OAK.